The
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
''Dryolimnas'' comprises
birds in the
rail
Rail or rails may refer to:
Rail transport
*Rail transport and related matters
*Rail (rail transport) or railway lines, the running surface of a railway
Arts and media Film
* ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini
* ''Rail'' ( ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
. The
Réunion rail, a member of this genus, became
extinct in the 17th century. The white-throated rail of
Aldabra is the last surviving
flightless bird
Flightless birds are birds that through evolution lost the ability to fly. There are over 60 extant species, including the well known ratites (ostriches, emu, cassowaries, rheas, and kiwi) and penguins. The smallest flightless bird is the ...
in the western Indian Ocean.
They are mostly found on
Malabar Island, but can also be found on
Polymnieli Island and other islands.
Though much larger, the skeletons of these rails show similarities to the rails of the genus ''
Lewinia''. Therefore, the two genera were lumped at times. This has been supported by DNA evidence, which finds strong support for a clade containing ''
Crex'', ''Lewinina'', ''Dryolimnas'', and the
Snoring rail.
Species
*
White-throated rail or Cuvier's rail, ''Dryolimnas cuvieri''
**Aldabra white-throated rail, ''Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus''
**Assumption white-throated rail, ''Dryolimnas cuvieri abbotti'' -
extinct (early 20th century)
*
Réunion rail, ''Dryolimnas augusti'' - extinct (late 17th century)
*
Cheke's wood rail, ''Dryolimnas chekei'' - extinct (mid 17th century)
Notes
References
External links
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190141/http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/D/Dryolimnas_augusti.asp
Bird genera
Bird genera with one living species
Rallidae
{{Gruiformes-stub